Projection screen or shade construction



March 30, 1965 o. N CRIDER 3,175,602

PROJECTION SCREEN OR SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 7, 1963 rl3 l7\ 23INVENTOR. ORIN N. CPJDER i -26 BY 1 wwaw, Mo /11W ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,175,602 PROJECTION SCREEN OR SHADE CONSTRUCTION Grin N.Crider, Chicago Heights, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to SlickIndustrial Company, Chicago Heights, 11L, a corporation of DelawareFiled Feb. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 256,992 3 Claims. (Cl. 160-23) Thisinvention relates to screen or shade constructions of the kind adaptedto be mounted on a Wall to serve as motion picture projection screens,maps, window shades, and the like, and more particularly the inventionpertains to a screen or shade construction adapted to be stored inrolled or wound condition when not in use and having a self-containedhousing adapted to receive the rolled screen and cover the latter whenthe screen is not in use.

Window shades, maps, motion picture projection screens, and the like,commonly include a sheet of flexible material secured at one of its endsto a rotatable member that is mounted at its opposite ends on a wall bybrackets, the opposite end of the flexible sheet being free so as topermit the sheet to be unrolled and hang vertically when it is desiredto make use of the sheet. Screen constructions of the general class towhich the invention pertains conventionally include a bar or red at thefree end of the flexible sheet to prevent curling of the edges of thesheet and to weight the free end of the sheet so as to overcome theresidual tendency of the sheet to assume a rolled configuration.

Maps, projection screens, and window shades conventionally are mountedby means of a bracket at each end of the roller member. Such brackets,therefore, are exposed to view unless some additional structure isutilized to conceal them. Many homeowners utilize valances at the topsof windows to conceal shale rollers, mounting brackets, and draperyrods, but such valances frequently are more expensive than the shadesthemselves. Moreover, it is not always practical to utilize valances,particularly in those instances when the rolled sheet is to be used as amap or motion picture projection screen.

An object of this invention is to provide a shade or screen constructionhaving self-contained means for concealing the shade or screen and itsmounting means when the shade or screen is not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for concealing arolled shade or screen when the latter is not in use, such apparatusalso serving to prevent curling and rolling of the shade or screen whenthe latter is in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the kinddescribed which can be applied to shade and screen constructions alreadyin production without modification of the shades or screens.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, but durablein use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out indetail or will become apparent from the following description when it isconsidered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional plan view through a vertical wall andillustrating a shade or screen mounted on the wall in rolled condition;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of one end of a shade or screenroller;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section 3,175,692 PatentedMar. 30, 1965 and partly in elevation, and illustrating the shade orscreen unrolled for use; and

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view illustrating one end of a housingconstructed according to the invention and in the position it occupieswhen the shade or screen is unrolled for use.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the disclosed embodiment of theinvention comprises a conventional, cylindrical shade roller 1comprising a cylindrical member 2 having a cavity 3 at one end thereofWithin which is located a spring biased winding mechanism 4 of knownconstruction. The mechanism 4 may be of any conventional construction,such as that disclosed in Patent No. 2,173,791. Briefly, however, themechanism 4 includes a spindle 5 that is notched at its inner end as at6 to receive one end of a coil spring 7, the other end of the springbeing anchored to a disk 8 which is secured to the cylinder 2 and closesthe open end of the latter. Secured to the spindle 5 and rotatablyextending through the disk 8 is a flattened spear 9 that is adapted tobe received in a slot 10 formed in a bracket 11 having a mounting foot12 which may be secured to a vertical wall 13 by means of screws 14. Atoothed ratchet wheel W is fixed to the spear 9 adjacent the disk 8, andthe latter is provided with pivotal ratchet pawls P which cooperate withthe ratchet teeth to latch the cylindrical roller 2 against rotation bythe spring 7. As is conventional, the pawls may be pivoted out ofengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel to permit rotation of theroller 2 in either direction by the spring when desired.

The opposite end of the roller 2 is provided with a cylindrical spindle15 that is adapted to extend through a circular opening formed in aconventional bracket 16 in the usual manner. The bracket 16 includes amounting foot 17 which may be secured to the wall 13 by screws 18.

Associated with the roller construction 1 is a flexible sheet 19 formedof conventional cloth or plastic materials, in the case of Window shadesand maps, or formed of conventional light-reflective material in thecase of a projection screen. One end 20 of the sheet 19 is secured tothe roller member 2 by any suitable means, such as staples 21, and theopposite end 22 of the sheet is free of the roller so as to permit thesheet to be rolled upon itself about the roller, and unrolled.

All of the apparatus described thus far is conventional in shade, screenand map constructions, and forms no part of the invention except insofaras such apparatus cooperates with the structure yet to be described.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention comprises ahousing 23 composed of at least two elongated panel members 24 and 25secured to one another in right-angular relation along correspondingedges so as to present a substantially L-shaped configuration in endelevation. Preferably, substantially square end panels 26 and 27 aresecured to the members 24 and 25 at opposite ends thereof.

The free end 22 of the sheet member 19 may be turned under the main bodyof the sheet and secured to the panel 24 by suitable means such asstaples 28. The free end of the sheet 19 is secured to the panel 24 between the side edges of the latter for a purpose which presently will bedescribed.

The length of the panel members 24 and 25 should be greater than theoverall length of the roller construction 1 from the free end of thespear 9 to the free end of the spindle 15 so as to permit the housing 23to receive the entire roller and bracket assembly between its end walls26 and 27. The sheet 19, therefore, should be centered with respect tothe length of the housing so as to permit the latter to extend an equaldistance beyond each side of the flexible sheet.

I To condition the apparatus for use, the mounting brackets 1 1 and 16are mounted on the wall 1 3 and'the roller assembly 1 is mounted in thebrackets in such manner that unwinding of theflexible material fromaboutthe roller causes the latter to rotate in a counterclockwisedirect-ion, as viewed in FIGURE 4. When the flexible sheet is unwoundfrom the roller and hangs vertically, the free end 22 of the sheet willunderlie the main body of the latter, due to the weight of the housing23,-and the wall 24 of. the housing will extend in prolongation of thesheet 19 with the wall, 25 lowermost, all asis indicated in FIGURES 5and 6. When the housing 23 is suspended by the flexible sheet, therigidity of the housing prevents the side edges of the sheet fromcurling toward one another, and the Weight of the housing holds thesheet in a substantially vertical plane and overcomes the tendency ofthe sheet to roll.

When'it is desired to store the flexible sheet in rolled condition, adownward tug on the sheet will release the latch pawls and permit thespring 7 to rotate the roller and roll the sheet upon itself about theroller, causing the housing 23 to move toward the roller. When the sheet19 hasrbeenrolled around the roller an amount.

suflicient to cause the panel 24 to engage the mounting brackets .11 and16, the housing 23 will be rocked counterclockwise a quarter turn fromthe position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 4,thereby positioning the Wall 24 below the roller in abutting rela tionwith the rolled sheet and the wall 25 forwardly of the roller to concealthe latter and the mounting brackets from View. The rocking of thehousing is facilitated by the anchoring of the free end of the sheet tothe wall panel 24 between the side edges of the latter.

When the flexible sheet is rolled up, it should be rolled at such speedas to avoid latching of the roller latch pawis, thereby enabling thespring 7 constantly to exert a force on the housing tending to maintainthe latter snugly a gains the wall 13. The capability of the spring tomaintain the housing snugly against the wall is facilitated by theanchoring of the free end of the flexible sheet between the side edgesof the panel 24.

As is indicated in FIGURE 4, the anchoring of the free end 22 of theflexible sheet to the panel 24 is at a point corresponding substantiallyto the radius of the roller 2 and. the rolled sheet. The portion of thepanel 24 from the anchoring means 28 to thefree edge of the panel 24thus comprises a lever arm coopera ble with the force of the spring 7 tomaintain the housing snugly against the wall 13.

Window shades, maps, projection screens, and the like 5 usually havetheir operating rollers mounted above eye level. Consequently, thehousing 23 may have two open sides, thereby enabling'the housing to belighter in weight than ifit had but one open side. Only one side of thehousing need be open, however, so it is possible to include a panel orwall parallel to the wall 24 if it is desired for the purpose ofprotectingthe rolled sheet from dust.

' The disclosed embodiment'is representative of a presently preferredform of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather thandefinitivethereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

What is'clai med is: 7

l. A screen construction adapted for mounting on a vertical wall or thelike and comprising a roller; means for rotatably mounting said rolleron said wall; spring means acting on said roller for urging the latterto rotate in one direction; a flexible sheet having one of its ends freeand its other end secured to said roller, where-by said sheet may berolled upon itself about said roller; a plurality of panel members ofgreater length than the length of said roller and secured to-one anotherto form a hous-ing having at least one open side, "said housing being ofsuch size as to accommodate therein said nolle'r, said rolled sheet andsaid mounting means; and means securing said free end of said sheet toone of said panel members between the side edges thereof and in-wardlyof said housing whereby said one panel member may abut said mountingmeans when the rolling of said sheet has been substantially completed,said sheet constituting the sole support for said housing, and saidspring means being of such capacity as to be capable of exerting arocking force on said housing and holding said housing against said wallwhen said one panel member abuts said mounting means.

2. The construction set forth in claim lwherein said panel members aretwo in number and together form a substantially L-shaped housing. 7

3. The construction set forth in.claim 2 including su stautially squareend members at opposite ends of said panel members and closing the end-sof said housing.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 0 CHARLES E.OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON'R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

1. A SCREEN CONSTRUCTION ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING ON A VERTICAL WALL OR THELIKE AND COMPRISING A ROLLER; MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID ROLLERON SAID WALL; SPRING MEANS ACTING ON SAID ROLLER FOR URGING THE LATTERTO ROTATE IN ONE DIRECTION; A FLEXIBLE SHEET HAVING ONE OF ITS ENDS FREEAND ITS OTHER END SECURED TO SAID ROLLER, WHEREBY SAID SHEET MAY BEROLLED UPON ITSELF ABOUT SAID ROLLER; A PLURALITY OF PANEL MEMBERS OFGREATER LENGTH THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID ROLLER AND SECURED TO ONE ANOTHERTO FORM A HOUSING HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPEN SIDE, SAID HOUSING BEING OFSUCH SIZE AS TO ACCOMMODATE THEREIN SAID ROLLER, SAID ROLLED SHEET ANDSAID MOUNTING MEANS; AND MEANS SECURING SAID FREE END OF SAID SHEET TOONE OF SAID PANEL MEMBERS BETWEEN THE SIDE EDGE THEREOF AND INWARDLY OFSAID HOUSING WHEREBY SAID ONE PANEL MEMBER MAY ABUT SAID MOUNTING MEANSWHEN THE ROLLING OF SAID SHEET HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED, SAIDSHEET CONSTITUTING THE SOLE SUPPORT FOR SAID HOUSING, AND SAID SPRINGMEANS BEING OF SUCH CAPACITY AS TO BE CAPABLE OF EXERTING A ROCKINGFORCE ON SAID HOUSING AND HOLDING SAID HOUSING AGAINST SAID WALL WHENSAID ONE PANEL MEMBER ABUTS SAID MOUNTING MEANS.